We are pleased to share our new publication in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of Mexico:
“Educational assessment of geosites in Peru: a replicable methodology for Latin America and the Caribbean.”
This work, led by our president, Sandra Villacorta in collaboration with international collaborators (Drs Nicanor Prendes and Almudena Sanchez) and IAEG Peru colleagues (Cesar Chacaltana and Ruben Romero), presents a practical and accessible methodology to evaluate the educational potential of geosites, applied to five representative case studies across Peru.
The study addresses a key gap in the region: despite its exceptional geodiversity, Latin America still shows limited integration between geoheritage and education. In response, the proposed approach combines a quantitative functional assessment with interdisciplinary expert consensus and a qualitative interpretation based on geoeducation, geoethics, and sustainability frameworks.
Results highlight that geosites are not only of scientific interest, but also powerful natural laboratories for geoscience education, especially where geological, cultural, and community dimensions intersect. The methodology stands out for being transparent, adaptable, and replicable—designed for use by educators, local stakeholders, and institutions working in resource-constrained contexts.
Key findings
The methodology was applied to five representative geosites in Peru, including:
- Cordillera Negra
- Pongo de Rentema
- Añashuayco quarries and Chili Valley terraces
- Nevado Coropuna
- Miraflores–Huaquis georoute
Results show that:
- Most geosites exhibit medium to high educational potential
- Geosites with strong geo-cultural interaction provide the richest learning environments
- Geoheritage can function as a natural laboratory for geoscience education, connecting scientific knowledge with cultural and territorial understanding
This contribution reinforces the role of IAEG Peru as a platform for scientific, educational, and international collaboration, bridging academia, professional practice, and regional cooperation in support of sustainable territorial development.
Visit the BSGM website for download the article in Spanish.
We warmly congratulate all the authors on this important contribution and invite you to share and disseminate this work.
#IAEGPeru #Geoeducation #Geoheritage #GeoscienceEducation #Geoconservation #LatinAmerica #InternationalCollaboration
